Omar Bravo is one of the most prolific goal scorers in the history of Mexican soccer. Known for his pace, quickness and opportunism in front of goal, the 30-year-old has become a Chivas de Guadalajara legend in the past decade.
A product of Chivas’s renowned youth system, Bravo debuted with the first team in 2001 and over the next seven years scored a total of 101 goals. His success drew the attention of some of Europe’s elite sides, and upon the expiration of his contract in the summer of 2008, he signed with Spanish side Deportivo La Coruña.
But at the Riazor, the 2006 World Cup veteran found playing time was limited. He started only two matches, and in March 2009, Depor loaned him to Mexican side Tigres. The move further eroded his chances of every playing for Deportivo, and Bravo was cleared to rejoin his beloved Chivas later that same year.
Since returning to the Goats in the summer of 2009, it has taken some time for Bravo to regain the scoring form of his early years. He has struck for another five goals in 32 appearances since coming back fulltime, leaving him only 16 goals away from tying the club’s all-time scoring record, held by legend Salvador Reyes with 122.
What Bravo has achieved with the Mexican national team is also partly responsible for his idol status in his country. He has played for El Tri in all the major international tournaments including the Olympics, Gold Cup, the Copa America and the World Cup. He has a total of 15 goals in his 62 caps with El Tri, including two against Iran in the 2006 World Cup, but his last appearance came in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. If he gets back to his old scoring ways, a recall will not be out of the question.
As he prepares to leave Guadalajara, Bravo will be remembered for his role in several important club highlights. He led Chivas to an Apertura 2006 title, won a goal-scoring crown in the Clausura 2007, and featured in three fantastic Copa Libertadores runs, including this year’s drive to the Copa Libertadores final.
It is in this year’s Copa Libertadores run that Bravo has seemed to regain his scoring touch, notching four goals in both the Round of 16 and quarterfinal knockout rounds. His strikes were the major reason for Chivas making Mexican soccer history by advancing to the final.
But the goal now, before he joins the Wizards, is to catch—and pass—Reyes for the all-time scoring record at the club. Whether he can do it remains to be seen. But regardless his status as a legend in Guadalajara is already written in the cement of the club’s new stadium, a good foundation for his next challenge: repeating his success in Kansas City.
